Lauren Sparks

I have an online friend I would like for you to meet. But before I introduce her, I want to remind you that the giveaway for the amazing Quest Q and A Study Bible is still open. Just scroll down and over to the right to subscribe and you’re entered to win! I’ll announce right here next week! And now…it’s an honor to acquaint you with Sue Donaldson, who blogs and podcasts at welcomeheart.com on hospitality, relationships and building the kingdom of God – one cup of coffee or homemade coffee cake at a time. She also speaks and writes for women like us. Women who want to make a difference with what they have been given.

Sue recently posted this verse on her website: Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. Psalm 90:12 NLT With it she launched a conversation I want to be a part of. How do we live a legacy life? How do we make our lives count for more than just today? Can we bring glory to God and enrich the lives of those we come in contact with? Maybe even long after we are gone? Sue teaches us that we can by first, loving God and investing in His Word; and second by caring for and expending ourselves for other people.

I asked this mentor to answer some questions of her own choosing about how she is making her life count. I think she has much to teach us:

What legacy do you want to pass down to those you know and love? Sue: That God is real and can be counted on. So much of what kids hear nowadays is antithetical to God’s existence, much less the call to abandon our lives to the only One worth living for. That’s the main thing: that [others] know that God can be depended upon, that God will love and forgive and strengthen and sustain and that this world and all its troubles are just a small part of their lives. Next I want to show them that following Jesus and inviting others to Him – strangers included – is the greatest joy. And that [my children’s] friends are always welcome in our home.
How are you currently doing that? Sue: Well, the only way is to keep trusting God myself. So that those closest to me see a true faith – not only a Sunday/church-going faith. When things get frantic or worrisome or hard, to tell them I’m frantic and worried, but giving whatever it is over to God for His safe-keeping. I also spend the first part of each day in the Word and prayer. For being such a spontaneous person, this part is locked in. All grace. Also, our home is an open home though imperfect, and the kids know it and have begun to emulate a generous spirit and heart for others. And I feel compelled to meet with younger women, and they seem to like it. Even if it’s just coffee – to bring other older believers together with younger women is fruitful, fun and simple. I’m intentional in my guest lists and in my questions around the table to get the conversation to a deeper level quickly. Everyone’s busy, but we all need a place where we can share our hearts and be blessed by hearing others’ journeys of faith. I don’t always know what to do to live a legacy life, so I go back to the basics: love God. Love others as myself. And do the next thing. Which may be laundry.
What changes did you have to make or obstacles did you need to overcome to make that happen? Sue: I had to stop comparing myself to other believers who seem to have it all together and continue to trust that God is working while I’m praying even when I don’t see it. It’s called faith for a reason, as hard as it is sometimes. It’s far too easy to live life in the short-form rather than the long view of eternity. So that’s an ongoing obstacle that I’m working on overcoming. Another obstacle [I have] is wanting to control the outcomes of events (and people!). The older I get, the easier it is to let things go as I experience God’s work and peace. I think parenting is the best lesson in learning to trust God (and I thought it was singleness!). Marriage is right up there with them both. I married an opposite. And sometimes that makes eternity quite appealing!
What wisdom would you like to share with my audience on making our lives count for something beyond ourselves? Sue: Make this your every day to-do list: #1 – relate well with God. #2 – everything else. Find a devotional tool that works for you. Choose Face to Face by Kenneth Boa (found here and here) if you haven’t read it – scripture written in the first person, meant to be read in 5 minutes a day. Lastly, take a leap to invite people over. Hospitality is a simple way to live a legacy life because you’re investing in people – never a waste of time. If it’s challenging for you, check out my resources.

Sue added: I want to live an “appetizer life.” So when others are around I provide a taste of what it’s like to belong to God. An appetizer is to whet the appetite – to give a person hope that the best is yet to be. Jesus is the main course. How we live is the best apologetic. I want to leave a legacy which makes others hungry for God: A mind of peace amidst a complicated day; a heart of joy and laughter in spite of circumstances; a word of hope for those who forget the truth; a hand to serve others more than myself; a table to fill – inviting those who come my way be they stranger, friend or family; a life of faith – that God is in the heavens and in my heart, and in His time all’s right with the world.

Take a look at these verses to learn more about this passion Sue has for Jesus and for others:

Then jump over to welcomeheart.com to read blog posts or listen to podcast episodes that will spur you on to love and good deeds. Every time I visit her site I leave encouraged to be more intentional in my relationship with God and others.

What about you? Have you given any thought to the legacy you want your life to be? If so, what are you currently doing to let your life speak? Comment below to continue the conversation.

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And look up these great writers I link up with every week:

InstaEncouragements, Literacy Musing Mondays, Hello…Monday,

The Good. The Random. The Fun.

BloggerClubUK, Tea and Word Tuesday, Purposeful Faith,

GraceFull Tuesday Link-Up, Hearth and Soul Link Party,

Let’s Have Coffee, Welcome Wednesday, Recharge Wednesday,

Worth Beyond Rubies, #TellHisStory Link Up, Porch Stories,

Encouraging Word Wednesday, Tune In Thursday,

Stories of Hope, Moments of Hope, IHeart Verse Link Party,

Legacy Link Up, Fresh Market Friday, Feature Friday Time,

Friendship Friday Blog Hop, Faith on Fire, Traffic Jam Weekend,

Faith ‘n Friends, Dancing with Jesus, Grace & Truth, Booknificent

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A few weeks ago I wrote a post about my latest favorite Bible study tools. You can find that here. Although I stand by this list of useful instruments, within a few days of publishing I began to reevaluate how I spend time in God’s word.

As a member of the Bible Gateway Blogger Grid, I received a complementary copy of the Third Edition of the NIV Life Application Study Bible. As I thumbed through this beautiful gift, I remembered days of pouring over a Bible with actual paper pages. I thought about reading notes and jotting notes and consulting commentaries and concordances. But I confess it had been a while. I somehow convinced convinced myself that my busy life demanded devotionals on the go. I’ve been reading scriptures on my phone at the gym or skimming a few pages in the carpool line for so long that I forgot how much I enjoy really digging in. So I cracked open this book and breathed in the scent of newly printed pages with excited anticipation. The anticipation of knowing that God would meet me there. And He has.

The notes in this Bible have three features. First, the explanation – a more detailed description to help us understand what the text means. This is where most Bible study notes end. Next, the bridge explains how the passage is relevant to us. The “so what?” if you will. And last, the application, or the “now what?” – suggestions on how we can live out the message of the scripture. The notes, study aids and red letters all strengthened my understanding of the concepts, commands and constructs of God.

I hope you don’t hear condemnation from me if you tend to spend time with God on the fly. I am so thankful for tools that allow us to stay in communication and fellowship with Him no matter where we are or how much time we have. Isaiah 55:10-11 tells us,

As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
¹¹so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Any time with God’s word is time well spent. And some days, with kids and jobs and volunteering and relationships, quick and to the point will have to do. But God gently challenged me that if I chose to fit Him around my schedule every day instead of orienting my schedule around Him, then my priorities were out of whack. In Mark 1:35, Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Now, Jesus could very well have been a morning person. But more likely, it cost him something to meet with God in this way. And I’m finding that my time with God is much more meaningful when it costs me a little something too. I’m not any less busy than when I THOUGHT I was too busy before, so I’m not managing to make this extended time happen every day. I don’t think I have to. Being legalistic is not the point. The idea is to be intentional to carve out time whenever I can to really feast on and savor God’s word. So that I’m not only meeting Him, but also getting to know Him better.

How about you? Do you have extended times with the Father? Drop a comment below. I would love to hear how you carve out time or what you do to get the most out of your appointments with Him. And…

show bible I’m having a giveaway! I did a review here of the NIV Quest Study Bible: The Only Q and A Study Bible. To enter to win a hardback copy (a $28 value) to help with your personal study, hop over to the left side of this page and subscribe to my blog! I only post about once a week and I’ll never give away your info. Thanks in advance for being a reader friend! I’ll announce the winner here in two weeks!